What’s the Prognostic Value of Loss of Smell in COVID-19 Patients?

Loss of smell was identified early on as one telltale sign of COVID-19 infection. However, a study just published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology indicates that anosmia may actually be an independent prognostic sign of less severe illness. The study of 949 COVID-19–positive people found loss of smell to be significantly associated with decreased need for hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit, intubation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The researchers found anosmia to be significantly associated with younger age (mean age of 46 vs 49 years), female gender (65%), and higher body mass index (34 vs 32).